Interesting article on fishing the Provo River

[GotFish]

Read this in the Trib today and was wondering what some of you guy's thoughts were on this was.[crazy]

[url "http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08262003/utah/87036.asp"]http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08262003/utah/87036.asp[/url]
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[EmuScud]

Interesting article. I have always found it interesting that fly-fishers can be so territorial and elitest (having been there myself once-upon-a-time). There for many years I snubbed bait and all those who used it. Not any more. Now I use bait regularly in my pursuit of the spine covered fishies. I still preactice mostly catch and release, but if I am hungry, I'll keep some once in a while.

I think there needs to be a balance between subsistance fishing and pure catch and release. Both practices in the extreme can devistate a fishery. We may not be able to do much about other adult's attitudes, but we can teach our children respect of a fishery and to use it wisely.

I also think that there is a place for "artificial only" sections of rivers, but when the fishery is being harmed, something does need to be done. I'm not a biologist but I seriously doubt the fly-fishers proposal of a one time "fish fry" will solve much of anything.

My two bits

ES
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[ALAN]

Interesting article, I have a problem understanding what the problem is. We are, for the most part anyway, all sportsman that pay the same as everyone else to enjoy our hobbies. I like to flyfish and bait fish both. I usually start out with the fly rod and if I can't make it work, out comes the spinning rod. It is nice to have a special place for either the bait or the fly fisherman, but when it comes to the ecology and future of the river, I think the DWR is on the right track. I didn't see anyything in there that says it has to be perminent. They could do it for maybe 5 years and then when the eco-system levels out, change it back. Just my thought. Al
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[cat_man]

I agree. I like to flyfish. But I also like to spin fish and bait fish. If I go to the Green River, I'll use artificials. If I go to Huntington Creek I'll use artificials. If I go for cats at Utah Lake I'll use bait. There's a place for everyone. The DWR knows what it's doing. Just look at some of the streams in the high Uintahs. There are so many trout that none of them get longer than about 11 inches, there just isn't enough food (and granted, a short summer eating season, but you get the point). The stretch of the Provo that would be allowed to have bait is just above Deer Creek, where bait can be used, and adjacent to that other stream where bait can be used. I think as long as everyone returns the larger fish to the water, the overall fishery there will improve.
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[Matador]

This thing the DWR is proposing isn't new and it works. A while back they had the same problem on Blacksmith's Fork. They opened it up to bait fishing to increase the harvest. I also heard recently that the DWR was encouraging more harvest on the lower Provo for the same reason. I just read a report about the great fishing on Blacksmith's Fork and I have not heard anything bad about the Provo either. So what's the problem? Let's keep some fish. I personally would like to see the rules not change to allow bait on the middle Provo. But it is crazy to hold to an elitist principle, such as releasing EVERYTHING, if it destroys the fishery you love. Extremes just cause damage. My vote is for us fly fisherman to eat a few more trout from the middle Provo until the DWR says to let them go again. Just my opinion.

m
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[Xman]

that article is a bit confusing in one area suggesting its fly fishing only. my opinion is this is the best thing to happen to the provo in a long time. what is the difference between the style of fishing. the whole idea of fly fishers keeping it to teir own styles is irritating to me. three years ago me and my fishing buddy clearly recognized the current problem of too many fish and being unhealthy. in fact i had mutiple posts about it on UFF which gave myself quite a bit of ridicule i might add. but the result is the same it needs harvest and fast. when you witness 10 to 15 % of every fish you see in the river with fungus growing on them thats not good. and its even worse when its in august and september before they spawn. how the heck do sick fish spawn? and if they do its a continuum of the same thing. spawners of 15 inches or so. so that is my opinion. please keep fish in the provo so the big browns can come back in decent numbers and i can fish the river again.
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